New Area - Week 1

Hey everyone! 

Everything's been amazing here in LA! Last week was transfer week.... and after 8 months of serving in the Woodland Hills area I have finally got transferred to another area😥 It truly was a bitter sweet moment to find out I was to going to transfer. All the members thought I was going to finish my mission there because I've been there for so long hahahah. 😂I really am going to miss all the people I got to serve with there. Woodland Hills has a special place in my heart and I'm glad I got to serve with such valiant people. Saying goodbyes is always tough but I know the Lord has more in store for me in my new area! Soooo let's goooooo

NEW AREA & NEW COMP:

My new area is in the Inglewood zone here in LA! The ward I'm serving in is called Centinela 1st! I'm so excited to be here. It is definitely nothing like Woodland Hills.... it is very diverse and I feel like I came to a whole different mission. My new companion's name is Elder Garlick. He is awesome. He's assigned to speak Korean and has been out for about 6 months. We actually went to High school together at Pleasant Grove. 

He is just a year younger than me. We didn't know each other in HS but it's fun to talk to him about things back in PG. I'm really excited for this upcoming transfer with him. Our first lesson together we were able to invite one of our friends (Andrew) to be baptized.... and he said YES! Andrew is going to be prepared to be baptized on March 20th! Which is Elder Garlick's bday! Super excited for Andrew and for him talking this leap of faith and preparing for baptism. Everyone pray for him please :)

Elder Garlick and I are living with two other Elders. Elder Zayas and Elder Hosea. I knew Elder Zayas way back when I first got here. We got to hang out all the time, but Elder Hosea is a brand new missionary. He is hilarious and is such a good missionary. Again I'm super excited to be serving here. This zone is going off with missionary work and finding a lot of success. I'm so impressed with how humble everyone is here. The missionaries, the members, and all the people. What a amazing time to be serving!

I'm super excited to be serving here with so many amazing people. I know Heavenly Father has a work for me to do here! Never be afraid to reach out if you need anything :) Have a good week! 

Elder Espiritu

        Saying Goodbyes...

Elder Zayas and I 

New apartment Elders

New comp Elder Garlick 

did a fun carwash a couple weeks ago 

Julia's Baptism

Wow what a week! 

I love being a missionary! This week our friend Julia got baptized! She's amazing and it's been such a pleasure being able to teach her. Elder Moody and I met with her all last week to keep preparing her for her baptism. All of the lessons we've had with Julia have been so spiritual. I've been amazed how strong her testimony is after just a month of meeting with us. It really is just evidence what the gospel can do for us in our lives as we take it all in! 

Because of Covid restrictions we had another pool baptism here in California! We had to do it our Bishop's pool. We were only allowed to have 8 of us there in person and then we had a Zoom as well. We had 3 Sisters from the Relief Society, our ward mission leader, our Bishop, Julia, and us in attendance.

Julia was so excited the entire time. After she came out of the water she had the biggest smile on her face! She was overwhelmed with the Spirit and gave such a strong testimony at the end of the program. I'm so happy for her and her willingness to follow Jesus Christ. 

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and being a missionary! Love and miss you all :) 

-Elder Espiritu 

Staying the Course

This week was quite challenging! After being in this area for so long I have times where I think to myself "What else does the Lord want me to do here? I've tried everything to help, people might be getting sick of me, and I feel inadequate at times." BUT I had a pretty humbling experience after thinking all these thoughts. 

I remembered my "why" for serving a mission. I came out here to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No matter where I am I know this is where the Lord truly wants me. This work isn't about me. It's all about our Savior Jesus Christ! In the words of President Hinckley "Forget yourself and go to work!" Even with these thoughts in my mind throughout the week, there were times I couldn't help but smile and love this marvelous work the Lord has prepared for us here:) 

Our friend Julia is still doing amazing! She passed her baptism interview last Saturday! I have loved every second discussing the Gospel with her. Her love and passion for the Gospel is incredible. She is still on track to get baptized on February 6th :) This past week we were able to have a Salt Lake virtual tour of the Conference Center with her. Luckily I have an amazing cousin who is serving there. So we set up a tour with her and her companion! It was amazing to see her and have Julia see the Conference Center. Very spiritual experience. Everyone please keep Julia in your prayers so she can continue to prepare for her baptism :)

Another amazing experience I had yesterday. We've built a really strong relationship with one of the part member families we've been working with, the Bohanans. There's Sister Bohanan, her son (Hector), and her daughter (Petra). Hector is a member and Petra is not...yet. Hector just barely turned 13 and he needed to be advanced to the office of a Teacher in the priesthood. He asked me if I could do that. We met yesterday and I was able to ordain him. I thought that was an amazing experience! 

This past week I've been studying about repentance. I recently listened to a talk by President Nelson. He mentioned the word "metanoeo". It is used in the Greek New Testament for repentance. The prefix "meta-" meaning change and the suffix  -noeo is relating to words that mean "Mind, Knowledge, Spirit, and Breath". This word really struck my heart. As we truly repent we have a desire to change mind, knowledge, spirit, and yes even how we breathe! 

Everyone needs to practice daily repentance. That is the only way we can progress. What an amazing opportunity we have to repent and it's all because of Christ. Love and miss you all! 

-Elder Espiritu 

 Elder Moody is a different breed and I love the man!

Virtual tour with Julia and my cousin, Sister Quirante